TNA Hard Justice 2009
Our opening video package starts with Stephen Hawking (I assume) talking about humans evolving and capacity to unleash our greatest potential, and how it's determined by DNA. This segues into hyping up and building Matt Morgan, as the DNA of TNA, who's set to have a World Title match tonight with Angle and Sting. We see Kurt needing one more favor from Morgan to get his spot in the Mafia, in helping him retain his title, but Morgan takes offense to Kurt "demanding" this from him.
We're live from the Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida, with Mike Tenay and Don West on commentary. As the camera pans in, a cage is surrounding the ring and Tenay welcomes us to the show and we get to our first match of the night.
#1 Contender's Steel Asylum Match for the TNA X-Division Championship: Alex Shelly, Chris Sabin, Amazing Red, Daniels, Consequences Creed, "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal, Suicide, "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: So it's first to escape to win, with the only way out being a circular hole in the top of the cage. Commentary provide a bit of background. The Guns have apparently been complaining of a lack of TV time. We also learn that Homicide, who won the X Division Title a month ago on Impact from Suicide cashing in his Feast or Fired case, will defend against Samoa Joe interestingly enough in one of six title matches. This is also the debut for D'Angelo, the former Elijah Burke from The New Breed in WWECW, who's had vignettes in the lead up to his debut. This is only the third Steel Asylum Match, with Kazarian and Jay Lethal having won the previous two matches.
It's way too difficult to cover all the action in this confined space. Crowd love them some Pope and Red in particular though, and this is your typical X Division style match, got some fun action. There's a "This is awesome" chant like 6 minutes into this match. I had never imagined Pope as an X Division wrestler, but he's doing fine in this match. Things slow down a bit after a Tower of Doom spot as Creed misses a dropkick on Shelly off the ropes, and the Guns have a unique submission combo on Lethal Consequences, cut off by Red and Daniels. Code Red attempt by Red is counted by Suicide with a slam face first into the mat, only to turn around into a popup spinebuster from Pope. Daniels with a chop and a Blue Thunder Bomb on Pope, now Shelly hits Sliced Bread on Daniels. Lethal with an inverted suplex into a facebuster on Shelly, then Sabin launches off the top rope to hit a tornado DDT on Lethal. Press slam gutbuster by Creed on Sabin, now with a headscissor DDT by Red.
Red starts to climb now but Shelley is back up and intercepts. Red with knees to the head, now everyone else climbs on the top rope beside them. Daniels with an STO on Pope, Suicide with a Spanish Fly on Creed, Sabin with a powerbomb on Lethal, as he's delivering an inverted suplex on Shelley. Red takes out the Guns with more DDTs. Red starts to climb again and Daniels is back up, Red is at the top now and Daniels soon joins him, dumping Red onto everyone else below. Daniels is hanging by one leg from the roof and now Suicide climbs on the other side and he's at the top now, with Pope right there with him, but manages to kick him down. Pope opts to drop back down with a limp and tosses Suicide into the cage as Daniels pulls himself back up and makes it through the opening to win in 15:38.
Pope I guess has an issue with Suicide as he just stares down at him, enough of an issue that he threw away a title shot to throw him into the cage, while Daniels climbs his way down from the cage, posing from the side of the cage as we go to the replays.
Tenay sends it to the stage where JB has come out to interview Daniels after his victory, who's now set for a title shot at the next PPV No Surrender. Daniels says that that was what the X Division is all about, hunger and desire. He says he has history with both Joe and Homicide, but he'd love an opportunity to get a little revenge on the choices Joe has made, then welcomes them both to a lose-lose situation. Then he calls out to AJ who's at home, questioning himself, a lot on his mind, and wants AJ to know he's thinking of him along with the fans and wants him back. Then he heads to the back and JB sends it back to commentary to run down the rest of the card:
- $50,000 Bounty: Jethro Holiday (Trevor Murdoch) is going for that $50,000 bounty put on Abyss by Dr. Stevie.
- Briefcase Match: The Feast or Fired case is going to be at stake, when "Super Mex" Hernandez meets Rob Terry.
- IWGP Tag Team Championship: Beer Money Inc vs The British Invasion (c)
- Intergender Tag Team Match for the TNA Knockouts Championship: ODB & Cody Deaner vs The Beautiful People (held by Angelina Love).
- X-Division Championship: Samoa Joe vs Homicide (c)
- Falls Count Anywhere Match for the TNA Tag Team Championship: Booker T & Scott Steiner (c) vs Team 3D
- TNA Legends Championship: Kevin Nash vs Mick Foley (c)
- TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Sting vs Matt Morgan vs Kurt Angle (c)
Now Tenay sends it to the back.
Lauren is standing by with Matt Morgan, who beat AJ on the past week's Impact to earn the title shot tonight, and she mentions how Kurt thought Morgan would have his back and clearly Morgan had different plans. Morgan says to never assume anything, and says that nobody controls him, including Kurt. He admits that at one time he did want to be part of the Mafia, but it was Kurt who decided to jerk his chain for weeks on end and have him do all his dirty work, without as much a reward for even one of those times. He says that tonight he rewards himself with the World Title, and there's nothing Kurt or anyone can say or do about it. He says this is his destiny, and not even an Olympic gold medalist, nor a wrestling icon can stand in the way of greatness.
We get a video package for our next match. Stevie makes it clear that Abyss didn't get rid of him despite his thoughts otherwise, and since Abyss wants to be treated like an animal, then he'll be treated like one. So he puts the bounty on Abyss' head, which makes him paranoid. Stevie makes it clear that it's not about beating Abyss, pinning him 1-2-3, it's about maiming him, hurting him, ending his career. Abyss would interrupt Stevie and try to goad him into doing his own dirty work, but this would allow Jethro to attack him from behind with a chair, to set up for this match.
$50,000 Bounty Challenge: "The Monster" Abyss vs Jethro Holliday (w/ Dr. Stevie)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: As announced during introductions, weapons are legal in this match.
Trading shots back and forth to start the match, Jethro off the ropes into a right, then another drives him into the corner, but sidesteps a splash. Shoulders in the corner to Abyss, then some chops that barely faze him, Jethro off the ropes into a chop before clotheslining him to the outside. Jethro face first into the guard rail, then the steps, but a right hand lands right into the ring post. Abyss into the guard rail then the apron now, then knees first into the steps. Back in the ring, Jethro to the middle rope but misses an elbow. Jethro face first in the corner for rights, then a slap from Jethro, and more rights by Abyss. Abyss grabs a chair near the announce table as Stevie slips some kind of baton to Jethro, who hits Abyss first and goes to work. Jethro with forearms to the chest as Abyss is on the apron, then knocks him off into the guard rail. Back in the ring, Jethro covers for a two count.
Jethro with the chair now, goes for the head but he's caught, Abyss goes for the chokeslam but Jethro elbows out, off the ropes and runs into a big boot. Jethro sent off the ropes into a back drop. Corner splash by Abyss and a sidewalk slam, cover and a kick out. Abyss lays the chair on Jethro's chest, off the ropes, but Jethro turns the chair upright for a low blow. Jethro with the baton to the head of Abyss, cover and a kick out. The ref took the chair away for some reason. Stevie gives him the chair back and Jethro wedges it into the corner, only to be whipped toward himself, but catches himself, tries to go up and over but Abyss stops himself short, then sends Jethro face first into the chair. Abyss with the chokeslam, cover but Jethro kicks out.
Abyss with rights now, then tries to come off the ropes but he sets his sights on Stevie, pulling him up to the apron from the floor. Jethro takes advantage to hit a bulldog, and Stevie hands him some brass knuckles, but he walks right into a Black Hole Slam as he goes to use them and Abyss gets the win in 8:52. It was an OK match, it was just kinda there.
Stevie looks on in dismay as Abyss celebrate. Stevie enters the ring as Jethro comes to and they have words. Stevie gets clocked eventually and Abyss loves it. Jethro leaves the ring and Tenay sends it to the back.
JB is standing by with Angle, who brings up Morgan's comments from earlier, and how every man will be fighting for himself tonight. Kurt disagrees though on that last point, saying that Morgan's actions and words don't surprise him, that he's young and doesn't think before he speaks. He brings up how Morgan has been trying for weeks to join the Mafia and tonight he has a chance. He says Morgan is hopping with emotion right now, he's young, he's going to be a little green, but by the end of the night, he says he's going to have a talk with him and he will be thinking differently. Then he leaves.
Briefcase Match: Big Rob (briefcase holder) (w/ IWGP Tag Team Champions Brutus Magnus & Doug Williams) vs Hernandez
Briefcase contains a shot at the World Title at anytime of the holder's choosing.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We learn from Tenay that the Brits injured Hernandez's neck, putting him out for three months, in the process of winning the briefcase. Hernandez gets the mic, and he says he has family there and in Mexico, which makes him a Latino American. He calls the fans his family, and says the Impact! Zone is his house, and when the Brits took his briefcase, it was like coming into his house and stealing from his family. He says that tonight there won't be a wrestling match, and gives Terry two choices, either go in the ring, bring him his briefcase and walk out, or he can take his briefcase and walk out on top of all three of them. Well the Brits rush into the ring, first Magnus then Doug, but then Terry gets him from behind and holds him up, only to be clocked by his partners when Hernandez gets free. Doug and Magnus are tossed out of the ring and the bell is rung.
Terry reverses a whip off the ropes but Hernandez takes him down with a shoulder tackle, hooks the legs and... Oh it's over? That took 11 seconds bell to bell. Who the hell gets beat with a shoulder tackle?
Hernandez leaves the ring and grabs his briefcase, as Doug and Magnus hold back Terry. Hernandez heads to the back, and Tenay sends it to the back.
Lauren is with Beer Money and she says they've been on a roll, but recently have hit a bump in the road losing their TNA Tag Titles to the Mafia, but tonight have the chance to redeem themselves with a win over British Invasion. Storm wants to make it clear to everyone that no one has derailed Beer Money but Beer Money themselves. He says they allowed Booker and Steiner to beat them at their own game, win at any cost, whether it means biting off a guy's nose, pulling out his eye, spitting on his momma, kicking his dog, he says if that's what it takes to win, they've done it. He tells Steiner and Booker that they showed them respect, something Beer Money has not shown anyone, but it will never happen again. Roode agrees and says that they've become soft over the last few months, showed that they had feelings, heart, emotion, and he says they're sick and tired of having emotion, feelings and heart. He says tonight they go back to doing what they do best, making cash and getting trashed, and tells the Brits they're coming to kick their ass. Then they walk off.
We go to our next video package, which shows footage of a massive arena-wide brawl among the TNA roster, but then turns it's focus to the British Invasion as we get the familiar voice over. Self-serving and hungry and hungry for power, they've aligned themselves with Eric Young, Kiyoshi and Sheik Abdul Bashir to form the World Elite. Standing in their way is Beer Money Inc., a hard-nosed tag team who knows how to get the job done. Can James Storm and Robert Roode stop The British Invasion's hostile takeover of the tag team division, or will they succumb to the rising power of the World Elite?
Before that though, we get our bullet points:
- Invasion of the Elite: The British tag team of Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus first invaded TNA, then associated with the World Elite to gain strength in numbers.
- First Title Defense for Brits: Recently on Impact, British Invasion knocked off Team 3D to win the internationally recognized New Japan tag titles, tonight they put them at stake for the first time.
- Beer Money Return to Title Prominence?: Former three-time TNA World Tag Team Champions James Storm, Robert Roode, they need a victory tonight at Hard Justice to regain their championship status. A win tonight puts Beer Money right back on the Tag Team Title map.
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Beer Money Inc. vs The British Invasion (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Eric Young makes his way out first to join commentary.
Magnus and Storm start the match with Storm laying in with rights, then sent off the ropes, catches Magnus with a facebuster off the knee then off the ropes for a running neckbreaker. Magnus gets Storm with an elbow as he charges into the corner, but caught with a forearm and clotheslines. Magnus reverses an Irish whip and tries to send Storm over the ropes but he skins the cat and pulls himself back in, ducks a clothesline for one of his own. He goes to toss Magnus out and he tries to do the same as Storm, but Storm dropkicks him in the ribs as he tries to pull himself back in, sending him to the floor. Williams comes in but Storm pulls down the top rope and sends him out too. Roode gets the tag, Storm off the ropes and he's launched over onto the Brits.
Roode tosses Magnus back in and sends him into the corner for some chops, Magnus tries to reverse an Irish whip but he's countered with an inverted atomic drop. Roode knocks Williams off the apron, then sends Magnus off the ropes and attempts a back drop, but gets caught with a kick and Williams tags in, off the ropes with a spinning back elbow. We have a "Wanker" chant as Williams hits some European uppercuts in the corner, then Roode fights back with chops, then some back and forth that Roode gets the advantage on. Clotheslines on Williams, then knocks Magnus off the apron and tags in Storm. Williams sent into the corner, then Roode whipped into him for a clothesline, then a snap mare and a knee drop by Beer Money, Storm covers for two.
Williams fights back with a forearm and he and Magnus send Storm off the ropes, he ducks a double clothesline and hits one of his own. Roode on Magnus in one corner, while Storm puts Williams in the tree of woe in the opposite one, whipping Magnus into him. Magnus is laid out on his back in position for Beer Money to pull him crotch first into Williams head. Fighting on the outside now for all four before Storm tosses Williams back in, but whipped into the corner and gets a boot up, but get hit with an uppercut. Whipped toward the Brits' corner into Magnus boot to the face before he tags in. Magnus stepping on Storm's head, sends him off the ropes, Roode tries for a blind tag but just misses as Magnus hits a back elbow on Storm. Doug back in, the Brits rotating limb holds on Storm until Roode breaks it up. More uppercuts on Storm and choking in the corner, then Magnus back in. Storm whipped into the corner, Williams whipped into him for a knee lift, then a boot by Magnus off the rebound, then Williams off the ropes with a knee drop. Magnus covers for two. Magnus slaps the back of Storm's head a few times, then his face, then Storm takes advantage and nails a side kick to the chest.
Roode gets the hot tag and Williams tags in, Roode cleaning house with rapid clotheslines. Williams sent off the ropes into a back drop, then an an inverted atomic drop and right hand drops Magnus. Chops on Williams in the corner, who reverses a whip across the ring, but Roode gets a boot up, goes to the middle rope for a blockbuster, covers, Magnus goes to drop an elbow to break it up but Roode gets up, causing him to nail Williams instead. Magnus whipped into the corner and Storm kicks him in the head. Double suplex on Magnus, then a spinning side slam by Roode into a cover but Magnus breaks it up.
Storm clotheslines Magnus to the outside, and they go for their DWI on Williams until EY leaves commentary to slide one of the belts into the ring. As the ref deals with that, Magnus comes back in with a low blow on Storm after knocking Roode out of the ring, allowing Williams to get Storm with an inside cradle, EY grabs hold of Roode's boot allowing the Brits to retain in 8:49. Damn fine match.
Roode kicks EY away and Storm takes out the Brits with some clotheslines, then rights on Magnus in the corner. EY comes in to save and cause a distraction. Brits try to attack from behind but they get caught and sent out by Beer Money, as their music hits and EY looks on from the ramp with the Brits. We go to replays recapping the match. More staring down as Tenay sends it to the back.
Lauren is with ODB and Cody Deaner, and she starts to ask what would happen if Cody got the pin but he cuts her off and thinks she was going to ask what happens if "those three Barbie dolls" try to rape him and she tries to deny that, but he continues, saying sexual harassment is a daily reality for him. He says he can't walk down the street without having cougars crawling over him trying to rip off his shirt, run their fingers through his hair. He says he only has eyes for one though, ODB, who'll be whipping some ass right by his side.
Lauren tries to ask her previous question to ODB, but she gets cut off again and thinks she was going to ask what she'll do when she wins the "Knocked Up" title. She says she's going to squirt lime juice all over it, then shine it up on her big, monster boobies of hers (her words), then strap it on the RV and take Deaner on a roller coaster he's never gonna forget. Then they walk off to Lauren's confusion.
No video package for that match, but we do get our bullet points:
- Angelina's Road to Victory: Reminder that it was last month at Victory Road, TNA official Slick Johsnon admitted he blew the call, Angelina Love defeats Tara to win the Knockouts Championship.
- ODB Pins the Champ: Recently on Impact, in a tag team match, it was ODB using an assist from her man Cody Deaner to pin Angelina, and the champ's reaction was to offer ODB a title shot.
- Deaner in Tag Team?: Deaner's mental picture of a tag team with the Beautiful People probably doesn't include the six-sided ring or a Knockout Championship, but those are the elements as they settle the rivalry tonight at Hard Justice.
Intergender Tag Team Match for the TNA Knockouts Championship: ODB & Cody Deaner vs Angelina Love (c) & Velvet Sky (w/ Madison Rayne)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: So based on the interview earlier, I guess if either ODB or Cody get the pin they become champion, and Angelina retains if her or Velvet get the pin...? Nobody's explained how this match works, so I don't know.
Angelina and ODB start the match, they get in each other's face until Angelina shoves ODB away, then gets shoved back, ODB ducks an attack and picks Angelina up, charging her into the corner. ODB with forearms, then Angelina with some shots and kicks, ODB picks her up but she slips free, misses a clothesline and caught for a fallaway slam and a kip up from ODB. Misses a splash in the corner and Angelina hits a bulldog, cover for two. Velvet with the tag and kicks in the corner, then shoulders to the midsection. Mounted rights by Velvet, then off the ropes into a shoulder block, cover by ODB for two.
Cody gets the tag and slaps Velvet's ass as ODB holds her up, then again, then lays her across the top turnbuckle to give her a spanking. ODB back in and Velvet retreats through Cody's legs to tag in Angelina. ODB with a kick to the ribs, but gets whipped into the corner, catching Angelina with a boot. ODB to the middle rope, but gets distracted by Velvet and Madison allowing Angelina to yank her down to the mat, then a cover for two. Velvet back in with an elbow drop, cover and a kick out. Velvet stomping ODB into the mat, another cover and a kick out. Angelina tags in again, they send ODB into the corner, then Angelina whipped into her for a splash, then Velvet whipped into her for one, followed by a snapmare and a basement dropkick by Angelina, cover and a near fall. Angelina with a sleeper from a seated position, but ODB quickly fights out, hitting a back suplex. ODB tries to tag as Velvet tags in, she tries to hold ODB back but she manages to tag in Cody.
Velvet tries to stay away, then tries to slap, Cody ducks and kisses her, then ducks another and kisses again, then ducks two before grabbing her by the head and giving her a full lip lock. Angelina comes in, he ducks a clothesline and gives her a full lip lock too. Madison gets on the apron and he turns his attention to her for a lip lock, making her dry heave. Drop toe hold into the middle rope on Velvet, who nails a low blow out of the ref's view, and turns into a pump kick by Angelina. ODB takes her down with a Thesz Press and as the ref tends to them, Velvet holds up Cody as Madison has the hair spray, but gets Velvet instead. Cody rolls her up, spanking her as the ref makes the count and... Oh, I guess ODB actually wins the title in 7:36, as announced by Penzer. I mean taking out the stupidity with Deaner, this wasn't a terrible match. It was about as good as you can get with Love and Sky.
Love looks on in disbelief as ODB and Deaner celebrate, and Madison is upset in costing her the title. ODB with a victory lap around the ring as Love and Sky look on. Now ODB and Cody start fighting over the title, and Cody takes it and starts leaving with a pissed off ODB in tow. Back in the ring though, Velvet tries to explain herself to Angelina as Madison tries to play peacekeeper. Then they turn to Madison and corner her, screaming at her and the ref get between them. Angelina walks away, and Velvet with the hairspray in hand, leaving Madison in the ring.
Lauren is standing by with Taz, Joe standing behind them, and Lauren brings up how Taz on Impact said Homicide will have to pay for Hernandez beating Joe on Impact, and asks why he would involve the X-Division Champion when he wasn't involved in the first place. Taz says that tonight isn't about rehashing what happened with Hernandez, that like he told her last week, which she apparently didn't listen to, Hernandez didn't beat Joe, Joe beat Joe, that was then and this is now, and now is about the X-Division Title. He says that Joe's not only primed, pumped and ready, Joe is in the zone, he's prepared right now to leave Hard Justice the new champion. He talks to Homicide now and says that what's going to happen is Homicide will leave tonight without the title, because Joe's taking it to the Mafia, and it happens now.
Once again,no video package but more bullet points:
- Taz Mentors Nation of Violence: When Taz emerged last month as Samoa Joe's mystery adviser, the Nation of Violence game plan became crystal clear.
- Mafia Wants Another Title: The Main Event Mafia won't be satisfied until they hold every TNA championship, the X-Division title now in their sights.
- New Champ vs Former Champ: It was Homicide who cashed in the Feast or Fired case, the opportunistic victory over Suicide, but tonight's title defense is gonna be a stiff test. Homicide to square off against the former 3x X-Division Champion in the challenger Samoa Joe.
TNA X-Division Championship: Samoa Joe (w/ Taz) vs Homicide (c)
Lock up to start and Homicide is pushed into the corner, followed by quick jabs and a headbutt by Joe. Homicide sent off the ropes, but slips around for a roll up and a kick out. Homicide catches a kick, then trips him up into a jackknife pin for another kick out, then a clothesline by Joe. Jabs by Joe, then sent off the ropes, Homicide leap frogs for a back elbow sending Joe rolling out of the ring.He regroups with Taz before re-entering the ring. Joe with a kick to the leg, then Homicide head first into the turnbuckle before being whipped across the ring, Joe misses an elbow, then Homicide is caught as he goes for a monkey flip and is set down on the top rope, blocks a right hand, leaps over Joe, sidesteps and sends him off the ropes for an elbow but Joe doesn't go down. Joe sent off the ropes and Homicide tries to leap frog but Joe stops before hitting a belly to belly overhead suplex, sending Homicide sliding out of the ring, which Joe follows up with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, chop to the back and kick to the chest, then a knee drop for a cover by Joe and a two count.
Joe cranks on the neck and Homicide fights back to his feet, elbows his way free off the ropes into a snap powerslam, and cover for two. Homicide choked over the middle rope, then fights back with kicks and chops out of the corner, then tries a suplex but Joe blocks, Joe dropping him on his face, then a powerbomb into a pin attempt, then a kick out to transition to an STF, then just a crossface, then a rings of Saturn but Homicide gets his foot on the bottom rope to force a break. Boots by Joe and jabs in the corner, then trading shots in the middle that Homicide gets the better, ducks a clothesline coming off the ropes and hits one of his own, taking Joe down. Chop by Homicide and a dropkick to the knees, then another, off the ropes, Joe tries a tilt-a-whirl but Homicide turns and lands on top of Joe. Homicide goes up top for a missile dropkick and Joe rolls out of the ring, then a tope con hilo by Homicide connects. Taz and Homicide have some words before the action returns to the ring, Joe off the ropes, Homicide counters with a hangman neckbreaker, cover for two. Joe with a back suplex drops Homocide on his chest, but pops back up for a cutter, cover and a kick out.
Homicide tries for something but Joe slips out and sends him into the corner, then Homicide sidesteps, only to be whipped across the ring and catches Homicide with the Coquina Clutch off the rebound. Homicide tries to elbow free, then tries to roll out but Joe hangs on, wrapping the legs, Homicide tries to reach for the ropes but has to tap in 9:03. Not a bad match, seemed kinda slow for the first little bit but things picked up.
Taz joins Joe in the ring as he poses in victory and Homicide slips out of the ring. We get the replays recapping the match. Joe poses on the ramp as he and Taz head to the back, as Tenay sends it to JB in the back.
He catches up with Kurt as he's walking down a hallway, who walks into Morgan's locker room. Kurt hasn't said anything and Morgan's already having none of it and tells Kurt to knock next tine, and tells Kurt if he wants respect so bad to show it. Kurt apologizes for some of the things he said the week prior, says he didn't mean it, but thought Morgan wanted what the Mafia had. This just angers Morgan more and points out he made that clear the first 10 times, on national television, asking him and the entire world to put him in the Mafia, but it was Kurt, the mastermind, the godfather who had to have it his way and have Morgan jump through hoops, and says tonight is on him. Kurt admits he can't change the past, but he can change the future, and that there's a contract waiting for Morgan in the Mafia, that all they're doing is dotting the i's and crossing the t's, and all Morgan has to do, one last thing, says Morgan doesn't have to lay down for him or anything, he just wants the two of them to work together, and as long as either of them win the title and keeps it in the Mafia, Morgan will have all the money, glory and fame. He says if Sting wins the title though, it'll give hope to the little, young pricks in the locker room and they don't want that. Morgan makes sure of Kurt's word of either of them having the title to secure his spot and Kurt confirms as such, and Morgan shakes his hand. Morgan walks out.
Now we get a video package, which starts by reminding us how the Mafia got their shot at the tag titles and won them a month prior at Victory Road from Beer Money. Team 3D reminds us they were screwed out of those titles and the #1 contendership thanks to the Brits, not to mention the IWGP Titles thanks to EY, and that the titles belong to them, and Ray quips that if he knew getting screwed felt that bad he'd have stayed a virgin. Devon says they are the greatest tag team in the business, 22x champions, and Steiner and Booker are just another tag team to try and knock off the greatest tag team in history and it's not gonna happen anytime soon.
Of course we have the bullet points:
- Tag Supremacy at Stake: Resumes of the respective teams are pretty much unparalleled. Team 3D, with the 22 tag title reigns, and the champs with their history with the Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat.
- Mafia's Hold on the Gold: Moments ago, the Main Event Mafia just added the X-Division Title, we know Kurt Angle will not accept a step backwards with the loss of the TNA World Tag Team gold.
- Can 3D make it 23?: It has been such a strange sight seeing Brother Ray and Brother Devon not having championship belts. This is the chance for them to not only stop the TNA tag title takeover of the Main Event Mafia, but also for 3D to win championship #23.
Falls Count Anywhere Match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship: Team 3D vs Booker T & Scott Steiner (c) (w/ Sharmell)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Commentary tells us that two referees have been assigned to this match, Hebner for outside and Slick Johnson for inside the ring seemingly.
Both teams get in each others faces and talk some trash, then go at it to get things started, Team 3D with the advantage already , then Steiner and Booker take control momentarily, then 3D again. Steiner sent off the ropes into a double clothesline before being tossed out of the ring. Booker sent off the ropes into a double clothelsine, then tossed out with Steiner. Booker and Steiner try to leave already and Hebner tells them to get back to the ring, so 3D come out to continue the fight on the ramp. Booker and Devon fight into the crowd while Ray whips Steiner into the side of the stage. Steiner into a guard rail, then the rail slammed into his back. Ray pulls his arm between the bars and works it while Booker takes control on the stairs. Ray and Steiner fight through the crowd now and Devon takes back control and they make their way back toward the ring. Booker sent into a wall as Steiner now has control over Ray, as he launches himself into Ray. Now he has a chair and nails Ray in the back, makes the cover for two.
Devon tosses Booker back to ringside and Ray nails Steiner with a chair, then misses a second shot as Booker is whipped into a guard rail. Vicious rights on Booker as Steiner nails Ray in the back with the chair again, then the ribs and again. Steiner climbs back up the stairs and onto a wall to dive onto Ray, covers for a two count, and we cut to see Booker just kick out of a pin attempt as well at ringside. Booker with the low blow as we get a replay of Steiner's dive, Ray lays a chair across Steiner's ribs and slams another chair into it, makes the cover and Steiner kicks out. Devon dropped chest first on the guard rail and Booker stomps away, and Steiner is tossed to ringside. Ray gets a chair and chokes Steiner with it before jamming it down into his throat. Booker misses a clothesline and Devon delivers some rights before hitting him with a water bottle from the crowd. Steiner with a jackknife pin on Ray for a two count.
Ray sent off the ropes into a clothesline by Steiner, cover and a kick out. Booker sent shoulder first into the ring post and Ray hits a scoop slam on Steiner, as Devon goes up top for the What's Up. Ray calls for tables and Devon grabs one, Ray setting it up in the ring. Steiner is set up on top of it but Booker nails Ray from behind, and Devon goes up top. Steiner joins him as Booker seemingly suggests a Frankensteiner, but Ray comes back in and drops Booker, then gets Steiner on his shoulders, but Booker moves the table before 3D connects with the Doomsday Device. Devon covers but Booker breaks it up. Ray with a sidewalk slam on Booker, cover and a kick out. Ray repositions the table, but Booker puts him through it with a Book End, covers but Devon breaks it up, and Steiner nails Devon from behind.
Devon sent of the ropes into a double clothesline, Steiner covers for a near fall. Side kick by Booker, cover and a kick out. Devon sent off the ropes by Steiner, but Devon hangs on, and as Booker goes for the Harlem Side Kick, Devon ducks and he gets hung up on the top rope. Devon with rights on Steiner now, sends him off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a near fall. Spinebuster on Booker, cover and a near fall. Devon avoids a clothesline from Steiner and he nails Booker instead and Devon follows with a back suplex, cover and a shoulder up. Steiner reverses a whip into the corner and hits a clothesline, then mounts in the corner for right hands, until Devon delivers a powerbomb, covers and another kick out. Booker misses the scissors kick and turns around into a 3D, Devon covers Booker, and Steiner rolls up Ray at the same time, and we have a double pinfall in 13:11.
Well now we have Hebner and Slick arguing over who won the match, and both teams weighing in to claim they won the titles. So the referees decide to review the video footage, so we get the replay, and it looks like Slick made the count for 3D before Hebner did...? But the official decision is that Steiner and Booker retain the titles, not due to a draw. Seems like the refs botched this one. Crowd were really into this one too, but we soon get a bullshit chant. It was a pretty good match too. Booker and Steiner celebrate as Team 3D point out the chanting and we go to replays. Booker and Steiner head to the back, then Tenay sends it to the back.
JB is with Foley, the Legends Champion, and says that it was 3 weeks ago that Foley won that title, upset the world, beat Nash, and since then he's obviously struck a cord with Nash, they've both been honest about everything, but he wonders, given Mick's physical prowess, if he's ready to step in the ring with a guy the size of Nash. Mick doesn't know, and he's not sure that't the issue here, and the important thing is the title, saying he was able to pick up an extra $623 posing for pictures at Wally's Wiener World... Oh it's a joke as JB asks "Really?" and Foley says that what's really at stake is that two very different people want to hold onto the belt, for two very different reasons: Nash because of the extra money he can bring in at comic book conventions, and himself because of the pride he has when he has that title. He says what Nash doesn't understand about him is that it doesn't necessarily matter how many zeros you bring in, it's how many fans you bring to your feet. He says his career's been based on taking a beating and keep on going, taking a licking and keep on ticking, losing an ear and never stopping, 325 stitches, he says it's about true in advertising. He says he's on the cover of the Hard Justice poster wielding a barbed wire bat yet there's no barbed wire bat to be found, it's a mystery, and tells JB to get to work on that because he doesn't want to ripoff the fans, and that he has work to do as he walks off.
Onto our next video package, with that familiar voice over. "What makes a legend? Is it the measure of a man's heart, or the weight of his actions?" Then we hear Nash say when he looks at Foley, he sees a guy who could write a best-seller, but doesn't understand his fascination where he'd rather wrap himself in barbed wire and set himself on fire. "Is it the size of his bank account, or the pain he's endured?" Foley talks about an interview Nash did where he said it was all about the money, and people ask him if that's how Nash really is, and Foley would say he didn't think he's ever had a conversation with Nash that didn't revolve around money. "Is it his knowledge, or his power?" Nash says he's an athlete and a businessman, and Foley is a pathetic wrestler. Foley takes pride in Nash calling him a wrestler. "Two legends stand as opposites in life and in the ring, both wanting one chance to be the TNA Legends Champion." Mick tells Nash to bring his intelligence, height, and good looks to Hard Justice, and he'll bring his passion, and see what happens.
Now for the bullet points:
- Foley's Controversial Championship Win: There's no questioning Mick Foley's status as a legend, but controversy arose when Foley pinned Kevin Nash in an Impact tag team match to win that Legends Championship.
- Mafia's Rematch Revenge: Kurt Angle claims that he could have had the result overturned by TNA management and officials, instead says the Mafia will use this rematch to take out Foley.
- Power & Money vs Pride & Respect: Tenay says he doesn't think it's possible to have more differing agendas than Nash and Foley. Who wins out tonight at Hard Justice? Will it be Foley, for the pride of the game, or will it be Nash, for the love of the cash?
TNA Legends Championship: Kevin Nash vs Mick Foley (c)
Lock up to start and Foley is pushed into the corner until the ref forces a break. Another lock up, Foley pushed to the corner again, but Nash with knees to the midsection this time, then an elbow to the back of the head and neck. Rights by Nash, Foley pulled in for a clothesline but he ducks and delivers some rights of his own, then Nash face first into the corner. Mick with elbows to the back and a headbutt, then another and more shots. before choking Nash over the middle rope. Boot to the midsection, Foley off the ropes with a knee lift. Foley tries for the double-arm DDT but Nash shoves him back and sends him through the ropes to the floor.
Foley trips him, but Nash kicks him back, sending the back of his head into the guard rail, then knocks Foley down as he climbs the apron, kicking him off to the floor. Foley face first into the guard rail, then again, then rams him back first into the apron, then the ring post. Nash grabs a chair but hits the post when he swings. Foley with rights before taking the chair into Nash's ribs, then to the back. When did this become a No DQ match? Nash into the guard rail and Foley with the chair to the ribs again, then off the guard rail again. Foley climbs onto the apron and goes for his diving elbow, but Nash gets the chair to shield himself from the blow. Foley's bleeding from the eye, I guess the chair caught him when he hit it and Nash zones in on it before tossing him back in.
Jabs in the corner to the eye by Nash and the ref asks Mick if he can see and wants to continue, and Nash keeps going after the eye. Ref continues to check on Foley and Nash delivers his elbows to the eye in the corner. Foley's asking for more and starts to fight back with rights of his own, off the ropes with a forearm. Another shot to Nash knocks him out of the ring. Nash face first off the steps and half of Mick's face is covered in bed, perfectly symmetrical it's kind of amazing. Now Nash is bleeding as he pulls Nash back in, Foley going after the cut with rights and elbows opening the cut. More rights in the corner drops Nash down to set up for Foley's running knee, but he pulls the ref into Mick's path and he's taken out.
Foley leaves the ring and pulls out his barbed wire bat and down comes Traci (Brooks I think), the "chosen one" of the Knockouts for the Mafia apparently, climbing the apron for a distraction, and a boot by Nash causes Foley to bump her off to the floor. Nash hits something on Foley but we don't see it because the camera's focused on Traci, Nash covers and wins the title in 10:43. Well this one went on a bit too long. I mean I get what they were going for and it wasn't too bad all things considering, it just went too long.
Nash grabs the bat and nails Foley with it, but before he can use it again Abyss' music hits and he comes out with a bat of his own and Nash escapes a bloody mess. Nash helps Traci up and flips off Abyss as they head to the back and Foley recovers. Foley slips out as his music hits. Over to commentary who put over the brutality of this match, then talk about the Mafia's championship takeover, then sends it to the back.
Lauren is with Sting and she brings up what's happened with Angle and Morgan, and asks his take on all this. Sting says that if there's one thing he's learned in 20+ years in the business, it's that you can only trust one person, being yourself, that you can only rely on yourself. He says Morgan is young and he's going to learn by his mistakes, just the same way he himself did. As for Kurt, he says he's... well, Kurt, that he'll step on anyone he has to step on, take advantage of whoever he has to take advantage of, and walk all over whoever he has to walk all over, just to preserve himself. He wants them to know that there's going to be a third man in the ring, and his name is Sting, and while a lot around there are losing hope, he says as long as he can breathe he'll never lose hope, because honor, dignity, and respect will come back, and it's going to come back in style. I think he alludes to AJ Styles at the end before walking off?
Onto our main event video package. It starts with Morgan trying to make his case to the Mafia, then we get a recap when he won a Best of 3 Series against Styles to earn this title shot. We saw and heard earlier in the night how Kurt tried to use Morgan to get his title back, which only pissed him off more who was out for himself only.
Now for the bullet points:
- Morgan's Night of Firsts: It was the Best of 3 Series win by Morgan over AJ Styles that has catapulted him to his first PPV main event, and his first World Title shot.
- Sting's Final Shot: The defending champion Kurt Angle insists he's going to use his power to make this Sting's last chance to become TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and;
- Angle's Plea to "The Blueprint" - Earlier that night at Hard Justice, the Main Event Mafia godfather closed the deal with "The Blueprint", questions they're about to answer: Can Kurt Angle and Matt Morgan work together to eliminate Sting, and keep the TNA Title, the power and the control in the family?
Oh I guess we're doing individual video packages for each competitor, with that familiar voice over:
He is a rare, physical specimen. Standing 7-feet tall, and weighing 330 lbs, he is genetically jacked, athletically stacked, the self-proclaimed DNA of TNA, and tonight he gets a chance to become the TNA World Heavyweight Champion for the first time in his career. He is "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan.
A man of mystery, an enigmatic soul, he has done it all. A 12x World Champion, an icon, a superstar, a legend unlike any other. Tonight, he enters the ring with redemption as his motivation, and revenge on his mind. He is the man simply known as Sting.
An Olympic gold medalist, a 13x World Champion, only the second Triple Crown Winner in TNA history, and arguably the greatest professional wrestler of all time. He has no peer, he is the godfather of the Main Event Mafia, and the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the World, Kurt Angle.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship: "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan vs "The Icon" Sting vs Kurt Angle (c)
Morgan wastes no time laying into Sting and Kurt soon joins in. Sting whipped into the corner and Morgan whipped into him for a splash.Angle charges and tries to send his shoulder into Sting's midsection but he sidesteps, and Kurt hits the ring post tumbling to the floor. Sting now with rights on Morgan, then sent off the ropes, hangs on and sidesteps as Morgan goes for a boot and he gets hung up on the top rope, Sting knocking him to the floor. Sting turns his attention to Kurt now and sends him face first off the steps, then back to Morgan and sends him ribs first into the guard rail, then whips him back first into it. Kurt then reverses an Irish whip and sends Sting into a clothesline from Morgan.
Back in the ring, Kurt with boots and elbows, then a leg drop from Morgan. Sting sent off the ropes into a double back elbow. Sting sent off the ropes again, but catches Morgan with a kick and sends Kurt to the outside. Sting with mounted rights in the corner on Morgan now, but Kurt is back in for the save, only to be sent in the opposite corner for a splash, then one for Morgan, then another for Angle and another for Morgan, before clotheslining Morgan in the back of the head and over the ropes to the floor. Suplex and float over for a cover for two by Sting. Kurt reverses a whip off the ropes and nails Sting in the midsection, then whips Sting toward the ropes and ends up going through them to the floor.
Morgan on the attack now as clubs Sting around the ring, then Sting fights back with rights, Kurt tries to leap off into Sting with a crossbody but he's caught by Morgan instead, then goes down after a boot from Sting. Sting and Angle back in the ring, Kurt catches him with a kick and goes for an Angle Slam but Sting counters with an arm drag, then catches a second kick, trips Angle up and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock, though only for a moment as Morgan gets on the apron. Sting knocks him down and gets caught with an Angle Slam off the distraction, Angle covers but Sting gets the shoulder up.
Angle gets the Ankle Lock applied a moment but Sting quickly rolls through and sends Kurt through the ropes to the floor. Morgan back in the ring now with vicious elbows to the sides of Sting's head in the corner, then a corner splash and a sidewalk... drop I guess. He just kinda drops Sting, then hooks the leg for two. Sting choked over the top rope, then drops a leg over Sting's back, which drops Sting over the bottom rope and Morgan delivers another leg drop to the back of the head and neck from the apron, then covers for a near fall. Fallaway slam by Morgan, cover for two. Sting reverses a whip off the ropes and tries to dropkick Morgan, but Kurt is on the apron and he pulls down the top rope, sending Morgan to the floor instead and Sting lands on his back. Morgan realizes what's happened and Kurt tries to talk his way out of this but Morgan shoves him back and has none of it. Angle gets thrown across the floor and then Morgan hits his Carbon Footprint. Morgan pins Sting in the ring, but Kurt's been hurt off the boot and the ref is busy trying to get a doctor for him and can't count the pin. Morgan throws his elbow pad at Hebner to get his attention, which allows Sting to come behind and hit the Scorpion Deathdrop, Hebner comes in for the count but Morgan kicks out.
Kurt is holding his neck and Hebner is out checking on him with the doctor, Sting yelling out at them. Morgan delivers the Carbon Footprint, hooks the legs, Hebner slides in with the count but Kurt has made a "miraculous" recovery and yanks him out of the ring. Kurt grabs a chair, tries to nail Sting but cracks Morgan right in the head as he sits up, then he nails Sting and sends him out of the ring. Kurt covers Morgan, Hebner comes to and Kurt retains in 11:28. Well it was a pretty decent match. Morgan was pretty out of place though.
Sting heads up the ramp with his head in his hands as Kurt poses with the title. Morgan recovers on the mat as Angle takes his leave with title in hand, posing atop the stage as the show fades out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well I can say I enjoyed this PPV more than I did Victory Road. Wasn't perfect, the Abyss match and the Knockouts Title match I could have done without, and some other matches had a few issues but I can say I at least enjoyed them for the most part. That said, with a run time of 2:51:32, there was a total 1:25:31 of wrestling on this show.
We're live from the Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida, with Mike Tenay and Don West on commentary. As the camera pans in, a cage is surrounding the ring and Tenay welcomes us to the show and we get to our first match of the night.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: So it's first to escape to win, with the only way out being a circular hole in the top of the cage. Commentary provide a bit of background. The Guns have apparently been complaining of a lack of TV time. We also learn that Homicide, who won the X Division Title a month ago on Impact from Suicide cashing in his Feast or Fired case, will defend against Samoa Joe interestingly enough in one of six title matches. This is also the debut for D'Angelo, the former Elijah Burke from The New Breed in WWECW, who's had vignettes in the lead up to his debut. This is only the third Steel Asylum Match, with Kazarian and Jay Lethal having won the previous two matches.
It's way too difficult to cover all the action in this confined space. Crowd love them some Pope and Red in particular though, and this is your typical X Division style match, got some fun action. There's a "This is awesome" chant like 6 minutes into this match. I had never imagined Pope as an X Division wrestler, but he's doing fine in this match. Things slow down a bit after a Tower of Doom spot as Creed misses a dropkick on Shelly off the ropes, and the Guns have a unique submission combo on Lethal Consequences, cut off by Red and Daniels. Code Red attempt by Red is counted by Suicide with a slam face first into the mat, only to turn around into a popup spinebuster from Pope. Daniels with a chop and a Blue Thunder Bomb on Pope, now Shelly hits Sliced Bread on Daniels. Lethal with an inverted suplex into a facebuster on Shelly, then Sabin launches off the top rope to hit a tornado DDT on Lethal. Press slam gutbuster by Creed on Sabin, now with a headscissor DDT by Red.
Red starts to climb now but Shelley is back up and intercepts. Red with knees to the head, now everyone else climbs on the top rope beside them. Daniels with an STO on Pope, Suicide with a Spanish Fly on Creed, Sabin with a powerbomb on Lethal, as he's delivering an inverted suplex on Shelley. Red takes out the Guns with more DDTs. Red starts to climb again and Daniels is back up, Red is at the top now and Daniels soon joins him, dumping Red onto everyone else below. Daniels is hanging by one leg from the roof and now Suicide climbs on the other side and he's at the top now, with Pope right there with him, but manages to kick him down. Pope opts to drop back down with a limp and tosses Suicide into the cage as Daniels pulls himself back up and makes it through the opening to win in 15:38.
Pope I guess has an issue with Suicide as he just stares down at him, enough of an issue that he threw away a title shot to throw him into the cage, while Daniels climbs his way down from the cage, posing from the side of the cage as we go to the replays.
Tenay sends it to the stage where JB has come out to interview Daniels after his victory, who's now set for a title shot at the next PPV No Surrender. Daniels says that that was what the X Division is all about, hunger and desire. He says he has history with both Joe and Homicide, but he'd love an opportunity to get a little revenge on the choices Joe has made, then welcomes them both to a lose-lose situation. Then he calls out to AJ who's at home, questioning himself, a lot on his mind, and wants AJ to know he's thinking of him along with the fans and wants him back. Then he heads to the back and JB sends it back to commentary to run down the rest of the card:
- $50,000 Bounty: Jethro Holiday (Trevor Murdoch) is going for that $50,000 bounty put on Abyss by Dr. Stevie.
- Briefcase Match: The Feast or Fired case is going to be at stake, when "Super Mex" Hernandez meets Rob Terry.
- IWGP Tag Team Championship: Beer Money Inc vs The British Invasion (c)
- Intergender Tag Team Match for the TNA Knockouts Championship: ODB & Cody Deaner vs The Beautiful People (held by Angelina Love).
- X-Division Championship: Samoa Joe vs Homicide (c)
- Falls Count Anywhere Match for the TNA Tag Team Championship: Booker T & Scott Steiner (c) vs Team 3D
- TNA Legends Championship: Kevin Nash vs Mick Foley (c)
- TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Sting vs Matt Morgan vs Kurt Angle (c)
Now Tenay sends it to the back.
Lauren is standing by with Matt Morgan, who beat AJ on the past week's Impact to earn the title shot tonight, and she mentions how Kurt thought Morgan would have his back and clearly Morgan had different plans. Morgan says to never assume anything, and says that nobody controls him, including Kurt. He admits that at one time he did want to be part of the Mafia, but it was Kurt who decided to jerk his chain for weeks on end and have him do all his dirty work, without as much a reward for even one of those times. He says that tonight he rewards himself with the World Title, and there's nothing Kurt or anyone can say or do about it. He says this is his destiny, and not even an Olympic gold medalist, nor a wrestling icon can stand in the way of greatness.
We get a video package for our next match. Stevie makes it clear that Abyss didn't get rid of him despite his thoughts otherwise, and since Abyss wants to be treated like an animal, then he'll be treated like one. So he puts the bounty on Abyss' head, which makes him paranoid. Stevie makes it clear that it's not about beating Abyss, pinning him 1-2-3, it's about maiming him, hurting him, ending his career. Abyss would interrupt Stevie and try to goad him into doing his own dirty work, but this would allow Jethro to attack him from behind with a chair, to set up for this match.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: As announced during introductions, weapons are legal in this match.
Trading shots back and forth to start the match, Jethro off the ropes into a right, then another drives him into the corner, but sidesteps a splash. Shoulders in the corner to Abyss, then some chops that barely faze him, Jethro off the ropes into a chop before clotheslining him to the outside. Jethro face first into the guard rail, then the steps, but a right hand lands right into the ring post. Abyss into the guard rail then the apron now, then knees first into the steps. Back in the ring, Jethro to the middle rope but misses an elbow. Jethro face first in the corner for rights, then a slap from Jethro, and more rights by Abyss. Abyss grabs a chair near the announce table as Stevie slips some kind of baton to Jethro, who hits Abyss first and goes to work. Jethro with forearms to the chest as Abyss is on the apron, then knocks him off into the guard rail. Back in the ring, Jethro covers for a two count.
Jethro with the chair now, goes for the head but he's caught, Abyss goes for the chokeslam but Jethro elbows out, off the ropes and runs into a big boot. Jethro sent off the ropes into a back drop. Corner splash by Abyss and a sidewalk slam, cover and a kick out. Abyss lays the chair on Jethro's chest, off the ropes, but Jethro turns the chair upright for a low blow. Jethro with the baton to the head of Abyss, cover and a kick out. The ref took the chair away for some reason. Stevie gives him the chair back and Jethro wedges it into the corner, only to be whipped toward himself, but catches himself, tries to go up and over but Abyss stops himself short, then sends Jethro face first into the chair. Abyss with the chokeslam, cover but Jethro kicks out.
Abyss with rights now, then tries to come off the ropes but he sets his sights on Stevie, pulling him up to the apron from the floor. Jethro takes advantage to hit a bulldog, and Stevie hands him some brass knuckles, but he walks right into a Black Hole Slam as he goes to use them and Abyss gets the win in 8:52. It was an OK match, it was just kinda there.
Stevie looks on in dismay as Abyss celebrate. Stevie enters the ring as Jethro comes to and they have words. Stevie gets clocked eventually and Abyss loves it. Jethro leaves the ring and Tenay sends it to the back.
JB is standing by with Angle, who brings up Morgan's comments from earlier, and how every man will be fighting for himself tonight. Kurt disagrees though on that last point, saying that Morgan's actions and words don't surprise him, that he's young and doesn't think before he speaks. He brings up how Morgan has been trying for weeks to join the Mafia and tonight he has a chance. He says Morgan is hopping with emotion right now, he's young, he's going to be a little green, but by the end of the night, he says he's going to have a talk with him and he will be thinking differently. Then he leaves.
Briefcase Match: Big Rob (briefcase holder) (w/ IWGP Tag Team Champions Brutus Magnus & Doug Williams) vs Hernandez
Briefcase contains a shot at the World Title at anytime of the holder's choosing.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We learn from Tenay that the Brits injured Hernandez's neck, putting him out for three months, in the process of winning the briefcase. Hernandez gets the mic, and he says he has family there and in Mexico, which makes him a Latino American. He calls the fans his family, and says the Impact! Zone is his house, and when the Brits took his briefcase, it was like coming into his house and stealing from his family. He says that tonight there won't be a wrestling match, and gives Terry two choices, either go in the ring, bring him his briefcase and walk out, or he can take his briefcase and walk out on top of all three of them. Well the Brits rush into the ring, first Magnus then Doug, but then Terry gets him from behind and holds him up, only to be clocked by his partners when Hernandez gets free. Doug and Magnus are tossed out of the ring and the bell is rung.
Terry reverses a whip off the ropes but Hernandez takes him down with a shoulder tackle, hooks the legs and... Oh it's over? That took 11 seconds bell to bell. Who the hell gets beat with a shoulder tackle?
Hernandez leaves the ring and grabs his briefcase, as Doug and Magnus hold back Terry. Hernandez heads to the back, and Tenay sends it to the back.
Lauren is with Beer Money and she says they've been on a roll, but recently have hit a bump in the road losing their TNA Tag Titles to the Mafia, but tonight have the chance to redeem themselves with a win over British Invasion. Storm wants to make it clear to everyone that no one has derailed Beer Money but Beer Money themselves. He says they allowed Booker and Steiner to beat them at their own game, win at any cost, whether it means biting off a guy's nose, pulling out his eye, spitting on his momma, kicking his dog, he says if that's what it takes to win, they've done it. He tells Steiner and Booker that they showed them respect, something Beer Money has not shown anyone, but it will never happen again. Roode agrees and says that they've become soft over the last few months, showed that they had feelings, heart, emotion, and he says they're sick and tired of having emotion, feelings and heart. He says tonight they go back to doing what they do best, making cash and getting trashed, and tells the Brits they're coming to kick their ass. Then they walk off.
We go to our next video package, which shows footage of a massive arena-wide brawl among the TNA roster, but then turns it's focus to the British Invasion as we get the familiar voice over. Self-serving and hungry and hungry for power, they've aligned themselves with Eric Young, Kiyoshi and Sheik Abdul Bashir to form the World Elite. Standing in their way is Beer Money Inc., a hard-nosed tag team who knows how to get the job done. Can James Storm and Robert Roode stop The British Invasion's hostile takeover of the tag team division, or will they succumb to the rising power of the World Elite?
Before that though, we get our bullet points:
- Invasion of the Elite: The British tag team of Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus first invaded TNA, then associated with the World Elite to gain strength in numbers.
- First Title Defense for Brits: Recently on Impact, British Invasion knocked off Team 3D to win the internationally recognized New Japan tag titles, tonight they put them at stake for the first time.
- Beer Money Return to Title Prominence?: Former three-time TNA World Tag Team Champions James Storm, Robert Roode, they need a victory tonight at Hard Justice to regain their championship status. A win tonight puts Beer Money right back on the Tag Team Title map.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Eric Young makes his way out first to join commentary.
Magnus and Storm start the match with Storm laying in with rights, then sent off the ropes, catches Magnus with a facebuster off the knee then off the ropes for a running neckbreaker. Magnus gets Storm with an elbow as he charges into the corner, but caught with a forearm and clotheslines. Magnus reverses an Irish whip and tries to send Storm over the ropes but he skins the cat and pulls himself back in, ducks a clothesline for one of his own. He goes to toss Magnus out and he tries to do the same as Storm, but Storm dropkicks him in the ribs as he tries to pull himself back in, sending him to the floor. Williams comes in but Storm pulls down the top rope and sends him out too. Roode gets the tag, Storm off the ropes and he's launched over onto the Brits.
Roode tosses Magnus back in and sends him into the corner for some chops, Magnus tries to reverse an Irish whip but he's countered with an inverted atomic drop. Roode knocks Williams off the apron, then sends Magnus off the ropes and attempts a back drop, but gets caught with a kick and Williams tags in, off the ropes with a spinning back elbow. We have a "Wanker" chant as Williams hits some European uppercuts in the corner, then Roode fights back with chops, then some back and forth that Roode gets the advantage on. Clotheslines on Williams, then knocks Magnus off the apron and tags in Storm. Williams sent into the corner, then Roode whipped into him for a clothesline, then a snap mare and a knee drop by Beer Money, Storm covers for two.
Williams fights back with a forearm and he and Magnus send Storm off the ropes, he ducks a double clothesline and hits one of his own. Roode on Magnus in one corner, while Storm puts Williams in the tree of woe in the opposite one, whipping Magnus into him. Magnus is laid out on his back in position for Beer Money to pull him crotch first into Williams head. Fighting on the outside now for all four before Storm tosses Williams back in, but whipped into the corner and gets a boot up, but get hit with an uppercut. Whipped toward the Brits' corner into Magnus boot to the face before he tags in. Magnus stepping on Storm's head, sends him off the ropes, Roode tries for a blind tag but just misses as Magnus hits a back elbow on Storm. Doug back in, the Brits rotating limb holds on Storm until Roode breaks it up. More uppercuts on Storm and choking in the corner, then Magnus back in. Storm whipped into the corner, Williams whipped into him for a knee lift, then a boot by Magnus off the rebound, then Williams off the ropes with a knee drop. Magnus covers for two. Magnus slaps the back of Storm's head a few times, then his face, then Storm takes advantage and nails a side kick to the chest.
Roode gets the hot tag and Williams tags in, Roode cleaning house with rapid clotheslines. Williams sent off the ropes into a back drop, then an an inverted atomic drop and right hand drops Magnus. Chops on Williams in the corner, who reverses a whip across the ring, but Roode gets a boot up, goes to the middle rope for a blockbuster, covers, Magnus goes to drop an elbow to break it up but Roode gets up, causing him to nail Williams instead. Magnus whipped into the corner and Storm kicks him in the head. Double suplex on Magnus, then a spinning side slam by Roode into a cover but Magnus breaks it up.
Storm clotheslines Magnus to the outside, and they go for their DWI on Williams until EY leaves commentary to slide one of the belts into the ring. As the ref deals with that, Magnus comes back in with a low blow on Storm after knocking Roode out of the ring, allowing Williams to get Storm with an inside cradle, EY grabs hold of Roode's boot allowing the Brits to retain in 8:49. Damn fine match.
Roode kicks EY away and Storm takes out the Brits with some clotheslines, then rights on Magnus in the corner. EY comes in to save and cause a distraction. Brits try to attack from behind but they get caught and sent out by Beer Money, as their music hits and EY looks on from the ramp with the Brits. We go to replays recapping the match. More staring down as Tenay sends it to the back.
Lauren is with ODB and Cody Deaner, and she starts to ask what would happen if Cody got the pin but he cuts her off and thinks she was going to ask what happens if "those three Barbie dolls" try to rape him and she tries to deny that, but he continues, saying sexual harassment is a daily reality for him. He says he can't walk down the street without having cougars crawling over him trying to rip off his shirt, run their fingers through his hair. He says he only has eyes for one though, ODB, who'll be whipping some ass right by his side.
Lauren tries to ask her previous question to ODB, but she gets cut off again and thinks she was going to ask what she'll do when she wins the "Knocked Up" title. She says she's going to squirt lime juice all over it, then shine it up on her big, monster boobies of hers (her words), then strap it on the RV and take Deaner on a roller coaster he's never gonna forget. Then they walk off to Lauren's confusion.
No video package for that match, but we do get our bullet points:
- Angelina's Road to Victory: Reminder that it was last month at Victory Road, TNA official Slick Johsnon admitted he blew the call, Angelina Love defeats Tara to win the Knockouts Championship.
- ODB Pins the Champ: Recently on Impact, in a tag team match, it was ODB using an assist from her man Cody Deaner to pin Angelina, and the champ's reaction was to offer ODB a title shot.
- Deaner in Tag Team?: Deaner's mental picture of a tag team with the Beautiful People probably doesn't include the six-sided ring or a Knockout Championship, but those are the elements as they settle the rivalry tonight at Hard Justice.
Intergender Tag Team Match for the TNA Knockouts Championship: ODB & Cody Deaner vs Angelina Love (c) & Velvet Sky (w/ Madison Rayne)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: So based on the interview earlier, I guess if either ODB or Cody get the pin they become champion, and Angelina retains if her or Velvet get the pin...? Nobody's explained how this match works, so I don't know.
Angelina and ODB start the match, they get in each other's face until Angelina shoves ODB away, then gets shoved back, ODB ducks an attack and picks Angelina up, charging her into the corner. ODB with forearms, then Angelina with some shots and kicks, ODB picks her up but she slips free, misses a clothesline and caught for a fallaway slam and a kip up from ODB. Misses a splash in the corner and Angelina hits a bulldog, cover for two. Velvet with the tag and kicks in the corner, then shoulders to the midsection. Mounted rights by Velvet, then off the ropes into a shoulder block, cover by ODB for two.
Cody gets the tag and slaps Velvet's ass as ODB holds her up, then again, then lays her across the top turnbuckle to give her a spanking. ODB back in and Velvet retreats through Cody's legs to tag in Angelina. ODB with a kick to the ribs, but gets whipped into the corner, catching Angelina with a boot. ODB to the middle rope, but gets distracted by Velvet and Madison allowing Angelina to yank her down to the mat, then a cover for two. Velvet back in with an elbow drop, cover and a kick out. Velvet stomping ODB into the mat, another cover and a kick out. Angelina tags in again, they send ODB into the corner, then Angelina whipped into her for a splash, then Velvet whipped into her for one, followed by a snapmare and a basement dropkick by Angelina, cover and a near fall. Angelina with a sleeper from a seated position, but ODB quickly fights out, hitting a back suplex. ODB tries to tag as Velvet tags in, she tries to hold ODB back but she manages to tag in Cody.
Velvet tries to stay away, then tries to slap, Cody ducks and kisses her, then ducks another and kisses again, then ducks two before grabbing her by the head and giving her a full lip lock. Angelina comes in, he ducks a clothesline and gives her a full lip lock too. Madison gets on the apron and he turns his attention to her for a lip lock, making her dry heave. Drop toe hold into the middle rope on Velvet, who nails a low blow out of the ref's view, and turns into a pump kick by Angelina. ODB takes her down with a Thesz Press and as the ref tends to them, Velvet holds up Cody as Madison has the hair spray, but gets Velvet instead. Cody rolls her up, spanking her as the ref makes the count and... Oh, I guess ODB actually wins the title in 7:36, as announced by Penzer. I mean taking out the stupidity with Deaner, this wasn't a terrible match. It was about as good as you can get with Love and Sky.
Love looks on in disbelief as ODB and Deaner celebrate, and Madison is upset in costing her the title. ODB with a victory lap around the ring as Love and Sky look on. Now ODB and Cody start fighting over the title, and Cody takes it and starts leaving with a pissed off ODB in tow. Back in the ring though, Velvet tries to explain herself to Angelina as Madison tries to play peacekeeper. Then they turn to Madison and corner her, screaming at her and the ref get between them. Angelina walks away, and Velvet with the hairspray in hand, leaving Madison in the ring.
Lauren is standing by with Taz, Joe standing behind them, and Lauren brings up how Taz on Impact said Homicide will have to pay for Hernandez beating Joe on Impact, and asks why he would involve the X-Division Champion when he wasn't involved in the first place. Taz says that tonight isn't about rehashing what happened with Hernandez, that like he told her last week, which she apparently didn't listen to, Hernandez didn't beat Joe, Joe beat Joe, that was then and this is now, and now is about the X-Division Title. He says that Joe's not only primed, pumped and ready, Joe is in the zone, he's prepared right now to leave Hard Justice the new champion. He talks to Homicide now and says that what's going to happen is Homicide will leave tonight without the title, because Joe's taking it to the Mafia, and it happens now.
Once again,no video package but more bullet points:
- Taz Mentors Nation of Violence: When Taz emerged last month as Samoa Joe's mystery adviser, the Nation of Violence game plan became crystal clear.
- Mafia Wants Another Title: The Main Event Mafia won't be satisfied until they hold every TNA championship, the X-Division title now in their sights.
- New Champ vs Former Champ: It was Homicide who cashed in the Feast or Fired case, the opportunistic victory over Suicide, but tonight's title defense is gonna be a stiff test. Homicide to square off against the former 3x X-Division Champion in the challenger Samoa Joe.
TNA X-Division Championship: Samoa Joe (w/ Taz) vs Homicide (c)
Lock up to start and Homicide is pushed into the corner, followed by quick jabs and a headbutt by Joe. Homicide sent off the ropes, but slips around for a roll up and a kick out. Homicide catches a kick, then trips him up into a jackknife pin for another kick out, then a clothesline by Joe. Jabs by Joe, then sent off the ropes, Homicide leap frogs for a back elbow sending Joe rolling out of the ring.He regroups with Taz before re-entering the ring. Joe with a kick to the leg, then Homicide head first into the turnbuckle before being whipped across the ring, Joe misses an elbow, then Homicide is caught as he goes for a monkey flip and is set down on the top rope, blocks a right hand, leaps over Joe, sidesteps and sends him off the ropes for an elbow but Joe doesn't go down. Joe sent off the ropes and Homicide tries to leap frog but Joe stops before hitting a belly to belly overhead suplex, sending Homicide sliding out of the ring, which Joe follows up with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, chop to the back and kick to the chest, then a knee drop for a cover by Joe and a two count.
Joe cranks on the neck and Homicide fights back to his feet, elbows his way free off the ropes into a snap powerslam, and cover for two. Homicide choked over the middle rope, then fights back with kicks and chops out of the corner, then tries a suplex but Joe blocks, Joe dropping him on his face, then a powerbomb into a pin attempt, then a kick out to transition to an STF, then just a crossface, then a rings of Saturn but Homicide gets his foot on the bottom rope to force a break. Boots by Joe and jabs in the corner, then trading shots in the middle that Homicide gets the better, ducks a clothesline coming off the ropes and hits one of his own, taking Joe down. Chop by Homicide and a dropkick to the knees, then another, off the ropes, Joe tries a tilt-a-whirl but Homicide turns and lands on top of Joe. Homicide goes up top for a missile dropkick and Joe rolls out of the ring, then a tope con hilo by Homicide connects. Taz and Homicide have some words before the action returns to the ring, Joe off the ropes, Homicide counters with a hangman neckbreaker, cover for two. Joe with a back suplex drops Homocide on his chest, but pops back up for a cutter, cover and a kick out.
Homicide tries for something but Joe slips out and sends him into the corner, then Homicide sidesteps, only to be whipped across the ring and catches Homicide with the Coquina Clutch off the rebound. Homicide tries to elbow free, then tries to roll out but Joe hangs on, wrapping the legs, Homicide tries to reach for the ropes but has to tap in 9:03. Not a bad match, seemed kinda slow for the first little bit but things picked up.
Taz joins Joe in the ring as he poses in victory and Homicide slips out of the ring. We get the replays recapping the match. Joe poses on the ramp as he and Taz head to the back, as Tenay sends it to JB in the back.
He catches up with Kurt as he's walking down a hallway, who walks into Morgan's locker room. Kurt hasn't said anything and Morgan's already having none of it and tells Kurt to knock next tine, and tells Kurt if he wants respect so bad to show it. Kurt apologizes for some of the things he said the week prior, says he didn't mean it, but thought Morgan wanted what the Mafia had. This just angers Morgan more and points out he made that clear the first 10 times, on national television, asking him and the entire world to put him in the Mafia, but it was Kurt, the mastermind, the godfather who had to have it his way and have Morgan jump through hoops, and says tonight is on him. Kurt admits he can't change the past, but he can change the future, and that there's a contract waiting for Morgan in the Mafia, that all they're doing is dotting the i's and crossing the t's, and all Morgan has to do, one last thing, says Morgan doesn't have to lay down for him or anything, he just wants the two of them to work together, and as long as either of them win the title and keeps it in the Mafia, Morgan will have all the money, glory and fame. He says if Sting wins the title though, it'll give hope to the little, young pricks in the locker room and they don't want that. Morgan makes sure of Kurt's word of either of them having the title to secure his spot and Kurt confirms as such, and Morgan shakes his hand. Morgan walks out.
Now we get a video package, which starts by reminding us how the Mafia got their shot at the tag titles and won them a month prior at Victory Road from Beer Money. Team 3D reminds us they were screwed out of those titles and the #1 contendership thanks to the Brits, not to mention the IWGP Titles thanks to EY, and that the titles belong to them, and Ray quips that if he knew getting screwed felt that bad he'd have stayed a virgin. Devon says they are the greatest tag team in the business, 22x champions, and Steiner and Booker are just another tag team to try and knock off the greatest tag team in history and it's not gonna happen anytime soon.
Of course we have the bullet points:
- Tag Supremacy at Stake: Resumes of the respective teams are pretty much unparalleled. Team 3D, with the 22 tag title reigns, and the champs with their history with the Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat.
- Mafia's Hold on the Gold: Moments ago, the Main Event Mafia just added the X-Division Title, we know Kurt Angle will not accept a step backwards with the loss of the TNA World Tag Team gold.
- Can 3D make it 23?: It has been such a strange sight seeing Brother Ray and Brother Devon not having championship belts. This is the chance for them to not only stop the TNA tag title takeover of the Main Event Mafia, but also for 3D to win championship #23.
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Commentary tells us that two referees have been assigned to this match, Hebner for outside and Slick Johnson for inside the ring seemingly.
Both teams get in each others faces and talk some trash, then go at it to get things started, Team 3D with the advantage already , then Steiner and Booker take control momentarily, then 3D again. Steiner sent off the ropes into a double clothesline before being tossed out of the ring. Booker sent off the ropes into a double clothelsine, then tossed out with Steiner. Booker and Steiner try to leave already and Hebner tells them to get back to the ring, so 3D come out to continue the fight on the ramp. Booker and Devon fight into the crowd while Ray whips Steiner into the side of the stage. Steiner into a guard rail, then the rail slammed into his back. Ray pulls his arm between the bars and works it while Booker takes control on the stairs. Ray and Steiner fight through the crowd now and Devon takes back control and they make their way back toward the ring. Booker sent into a wall as Steiner now has control over Ray, as he launches himself into Ray. Now he has a chair and nails Ray in the back, makes the cover for two.
Devon tosses Booker back to ringside and Ray nails Steiner with a chair, then misses a second shot as Booker is whipped into a guard rail. Vicious rights on Booker as Steiner nails Ray in the back with the chair again, then the ribs and again. Steiner climbs back up the stairs and onto a wall to dive onto Ray, covers for a two count, and we cut to see Booker just kick out of a pin attempt as well at ringside. Booker with the low blow as we get a replay of Steiner's dive, Ray lays a chair across Steiner's ribs and slams another chair into it, makes the cover and Steiner kicks out. Devon dropped chest first on the guard rail and Booker stomps away, and Steiner is tossed to ringside. Ray gets a chair and chokes Steiner with it before jamming it down into his throat. Booker misses a clothesline and Devon delivers some rights before hitting him with a water bottle from the crowd. Steiner with a jackknife pin on Ray for a two count.
Ray sent off the ropes into a clothesline by Steiner, cover and a kick out. Booker sent shoulder first into the ring post and Ray hits a scoop slam on Steiner, as Devon goes up top for the What's Up. Ray calls for tables and Devon grabs one, Ray setting it up in the ring. Steiner is set up on top of it but Booker nails Ray from behind, and Devon goes up top. Steiner joins him as Booker seemingly suggests a Frankensteiner, but Ray comes back in and drops Booker, then gets Steiner on his shoulders, but Booker moves the table before 3D connects with the Doomsday Device. Devon covers but Booker breaks it up. Ray with a sidewalk slam on Booker, cover and a kick out. Ray repositions the table, but Booker puts him through it with a Book End, covers but Devon breaks it up, and Steiner nails Devon from behind.
Devon sent of the ropes into a double clothesline, Steiner covers for a near fall. Side kick by Booker, cover and a kick out. Devon sent off the ropes by Steiner, but Devon hangs on, and as Booker goes for the Harlem Side Kick, Devon ducks and he gets hung up on the top rope. Devon with rights on Steiner now, sends him off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a near fall. Spinebuster on Booker, cover and a near fall. Devon avoids a clothesline from Steiner and he nails Booker instead and Devon follows with a back suplex, cover and a shoulder up. Steiner reverses a whip into the corner and hits a clothesline, then mounts in the corner for right hands, until Devon delivers a powerbomb, covers and another kick out. Booker misses the scissors kick and turns around into a 3D, Devon covers Booker, and Steiner rolls up Ray at the same time, and we have a double pinfall in 13:11.
Well now we have Hebner and Slick arguing over who won the match, and both teams weighing in to claim they won the titles. So the referees decide to review the video footage, so we get the replay, and it looks like Slick made the count for 3D before Hebner did...? But the official decision is that Steiner and Booker retain the titles, not due to a draw. Seems like the refs botched this one. Crowd were really into this one too, but we soon get a bullshit chant. It was a pretty good match too. Booker and Steiner celebrate as Team 3D point out the chanting and we go to replays. Booker and Steiner head to the back, then Tenay sends it to the back.
JB is with Foley, the Legends Champion, and says that it was 3 weeks ago that Foley won that title, upset the world, beat Nash, and since then he's obviously struck a cord with Nash, they've both been honest about everything, but he wonders, given Mick's physical prowess, if he's ready to step in the ring with a guy the size of Nash. Mick doesn't know, and he's not sure that't the issue here, and the important thing is the title, saying he was able to pick up an extra $623 posing for pictures at Wally's Wiener World... Oh it's a joke as JB asks "Really?" and Foley says that what's really at stake is that two very different people want to hold onto the belt, for two very different reasons: Nash because of the extra money he can bring in at comic book conventions, and himself because of the pride he has when he has that title. He says what Nash doesn't understand about him is that it doesn't necessarily matter how many zeros you bring in, it's how many fans you bring to your feet. He says his career's been based on taking a beating and keep on going, taking a licking and keep on ticking, losing an ear and never stopping, 325 stitches, he says it's about true in advertising. He says he's on the cover of the Hard Justice poster wielding a barbed wire bat yet there's no barbed wire bat to be found, it's a mystery, and tells JB to get to work on that because he doesn't want to ripoff the fans, and that he has work to do as he walks off.
Onto our next video package, with that familiar voice over. "What makes a legend? Is it the measure of a man's heart, or the weight of his actions?" Then we hear Nash say when he looks at Foley, he sees a guy who could write a best-seller, but doesn't understand his fascination where he'd rather wrap himself in barbed wire and set himself on fire. "Is it the size of his bank account, or the pain he's endured?" Foley talks about an interview Nash did where he said it was all about the money, and people ask him if that's how Nash really is, and Foley would say he didn't think he's ever had a conversation with Nash that didn't revolve around money. "Is it his knowledge, or his power?" Nash says he's an athlete and a businessman, and Foley is a pathetic wrestler. Foley takes pride in Nash calling him a wrestler. "Two legends stand as opposites in life and in the ring, both wanting one chance to be the TNA Legends Champion." Mick tells Nash to bring his intelligence, height, and good looks to Hard Justice, and he'll bring his passion, and see what happens.
Now for the bullet points:
- Foley's Controversial Championship Win: There's no questioning Mick Foley's status as a legend, but controversy arose when Foley pinned Kevin Nash in an Impact tag team match to win that Legends Championship.
- Mafia's Rematch Revenge: Kurt Angle claims that he could have had the result overturned by TNA management and officials, instead says the Mafia will use this rematch to take out Foley.
- Power & Money vs Pride & Respect: Tenay says he doesn't think it's possible to have more differing agendas than Nash and Foley. Who wins out tonight at Hard Justice? Will it be Foley, for the pride of the game, or will it be Nash, for the love of the cash?
Lock up to start and Foley is pushed into the corner until the ref forces a break. Another lock up, Foley pushed to the corner again, but Nash with knees to the midsection this time, then an elbow to the back of the head and neck. Rights by Nash, Foley pulled in for a clothesline but he ducks and delivers some rights of his own, then Nash face first into the corner. Mick with elbows to the back and a headbutt, then another and more shots. before choking Nash over the middle rope. Boot to the midsection, Foley off the ropes with a knee lift. Foley tries for the double-arm DDT but Nash shoves him back and sends him through the ropes to the floor.
Foley trips him, but Nash kicks him back, sending the back of his head into the guard rail, then knocks Foley down as he climbs the apron, kicking him off to the floor. Foley face first into the guard rail, then again, then rams him back first into the apron, then the ring post. Nash grabs a chair but hits the post when he swings. Foley with rights before taking the chair into Nash's ribs, then to the back. When did this become a No DQ match? Nash into the guard rail and Foley with the chair to the ribs again, then off the guard rail again. Foley climbs onto the apron and goes for his diving elbow, but Nash gets the chair to shield himself from the blow. Foley's bleeding from the eye, I guess the chair caught him when he hit it and Nash zones in on it before tossing him back in.
Jabs in the corner to the eye by Nash and the ref asks Mick if he can see and wants to continue, and Nash keeps going after the eye. Ref continues to check on Foley and Nash delivers his elbows to the eye in the corner. Foley's asking for more and starts to fight back with rights of his own, off the ropes with a forearm. Another shot to Nash knocks him out of the ring. Nash face first off the steps and half of Mick's face is covered in bed, perfectly symmetrical it's kind of amazing. Now Nash is bleeding as he pulls Nash back in, Foley going after the cut with rights and elbows opening the cut. More rights in the corner drops Nash down to set up for Foley's running knee, but he pulls the ref into Mick's path and he's taken out.
Foley leaves the ring and pulls out his barbed wire bat and down comes Traci (Brooks I think), the "chosen one" of the Knockouts for the Mafia apparently, climbing the apron for a distraction, and a boot by Nash causes Foley to bump her off to the floor. Nash hits something on Foley but we don't see it because the camera's focused on Traci, Nash covers and wins the title in 10:43. Well this one went on a bit too long. I mean I get what they were going for and it wasn't too bad all things considering, it just went too long.
Nash grabs the bat and nails Foley with it, but before he can use it again Abyss' music hits and he comes out with a bat of his own and Nash escapes a bloody mess. Nash helps Traci up and flips off Abyss as they head to the back and Foley recovers. Foley slips out as his music hits. Over to commentary who put over the brutality of this match, then talk about the Mafia's championship takeover, then sends it to the back.
Lauren is with Sting and she brings up what's happened with Angle and Morgan, and asks his take on all this. Sting says that if there's one thing he's learned in 20+ years in the business, it's that you can only trust one person, being yourself, that you can only rely on yourself. He says Morgan is young and he's going to learn by his mistakes, just the same way he himself did. As for Kurt, he says he's... well, Kurt, that he'll step on anyone he has to step on, take advantage of whoever he has to take advantage of, and walk all over whoever he has to walk all over, just to preserve himself. He wants them to know that there's going to be a third man in the ring, and his name is Sting, and while a lot around there are losing hope, he says as long as he can breathe he'll never lose hope, because honor, dignity, and respect will come back, and it's going to come back in style. I think he alludes to AJ Styles at the end before walking off?
Onto our main event video package. It starts with Morgan trying to make his case to the Mafia, then we get a recap when he won a Best of 3 Series against Styles to earn this title shot. We saw and heard earlier in the night how Kurt tried to use Morgan to get his title back, which only pissed him off more who was out for himself only.
Now for the bullet points:
- Morgan's Night of Firsts: It was the Best of 3 Series win by Morgan over AJ Styles that has catapulted him to his first PPV main event, and his first World Title shot.
- Sting's Final Shot: The defending champion Kurt Angle insists he's going to use his power to make this Sting's last chance to become TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and;
- Angle's Plea to "The Blueprint" - Earlier that night at Hard Justice, the Main Event Mafia godfather closed the deal with "The Blueprint", questions they're about to answer: Can Kurt Angle and Matt Morgan work together to eliminate Sting, and keep the TNA Title, the power and the control in the family?
Oh I guess we're doing individual video packages for each competitor, with that familiar voice over:
He is a rare, physical specimen. Standing 7-feet tall, and weighing 330 lbs, he is genetically jacked, athletically stacked, the self-proclaimed DNA of TNA, and tonight he gets a chance to become the TNA World Heavyweight Champion for the first time in his career. He is "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan.
A man of mystery, an enigmatic soul, he has done it all. A 12x World Champion, an icon, a superstar, a legend unlike any other. Tonight, he enters the ring with redemption as his motivation, and revenge on his mind. He is the man simply known as Sting.
An Olympic gold medalist, a 13x World Champion, only the second Triple Crown Winner in TNA history, and arguably the greatest professional wrestler of all time. He has no peer, he is the godfather of the Main Event Mafia, and the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the World, Kurt Angle.
Morgan wastes no time laying into Sting and Kurt soon joins in. Sting whipped into the corner and Morgan whipped into him for a splash.Angle charges and tries to send his shoulder into Sting's midsection but he sidesteps, and Kurt hits the ring post tumbling to the floor. Sting now with rights on Morgan, then sent off the ropes, hangs on and sidesteps as Morgan goes for a boot and he gets hung up on the top rope, Sting knocking him to the floor. Sting turns his attention to Kurt now and sends him face first off the steps, then back to Morgan and sends him ribs first into the guard rail, then whips him back first into it. Kurt then reverses an Irish whip and sends Sting into a clothesline from Morgan.
Back in the ring, Kurt with boots and elbows, then a leg drop from Morgan. Sting sent off the ropes into a double back elbow. Sting sent off the ropes again, but catches Morgan with a kick and sends Kurt to the outside. Sting with mounted rights in the corner on Morgan now, but Kurt is back in for the save, only to be sent in the opposite corner for a splash, then one for Morgan, then another for Angle and another for Morgan, before clotheslining Morgan in the back of the head and over the ropes to the floor. Suplex and float over for a cover for two by Sting. Kurt reverses a whip off the ropes and nails Sting in the midsection, then whips Sting toward the ropes and ends up going through them to the floor.
Morgan on the attack now as clubs Sting around the ring, then Sting fights back with rights, Kurt tries to leap off into Sting with a crossbody but he's caught by Morgan instead, then goes down after a boot from Sting. Sting and Angle back in the ring, Kurt catches him with a kick and goes for an Angle Slam but Sting counters with an arm drag, then catches a second kick, trips Angle up and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock, though only for a moment as Morgan gets on the apron. Sting knocks him down and gets caught with an Angle Slam off the distraction, Angle covers but Sting gets the shoulder up.
Angle gets the Ankle Lock applied a moment but Sting quickly rolls through and sends Kurt through the ropes to the floor. Morgan back in the ring now with vicious elbows to the sides of Sting's head in the corner, then a corner splash and a sidewalk... drop I guess. He just kinda drops Sting, then hooks the leg for two. Sting choked over the top rope, then drops a leg over Sting's back, which drops Sting over the bottom rope and Morgan delivers another leg drop to the back of the head and neck from the apron, then covers for a near fall. Fallaway slam by Morgan, cover for two. Sting reverses a whip off the ropes and tries to dropkick Morgan, but Kurt is on the apron and he pulls down the top rope, sending Morgan to the floor instead and Sting lands on his back. Morgan realizes what's happened and Kurt tries to talk his way out of this but Morgan shoves him back and has none of it. Angle gets thrown across the floor and then Morgan hits his Carbon Footprint. Morgan pins Sting in the ring, but Kurt's been hurt off the boot and the ref is busy trying to get a doctor for him and can't count the pin. Morgan throws his elbow pad at Hebner to get his attention, which allows Sting to come behind and hit the Scorpion Deathdrop, Hebner comes in for the count but Morgan kicks out.
Kurt is holding his neck and Hebner is out checking on him with the doctor, Sting yelling out at them. Morgan delivers the Carbon Footprint, hooks the legs, Hebner slides in with the count but Kurt has made a "miraculous" recovery and yanks him out of the ring. Kurt grabs a chair, tries to nail Sting but cracks Morgan right in the head as he sits up, then he nails Sting and sends him out of the ring. Kurt covers Morgan, Hebner comes to and Kurt retains in 11:28. Well it was a pretty decent match. Morgan was pretty out of place though.
Sting heads up the ramp with his head in his hands as Kurt poses with the title. Morgan recovers on the mat as Angle takes his leave with title in hand, posing atop the stage as the show fades out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well I can say I enjoyed this PPV more than I did Victory Road. Wasn't perfect, the Abyss match and the Knockouts Title match I could have done without, and some other matches had a few issues but I can say I at least enjoyed them for the most part. That said, with a run time of 2:51:32, there was a total 1:25:31 of wrestling on this show.
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